County Commissioner's
Office
County Talk
By
Lamar Paris - Commissioner
SPLOST continued
Q. When are all of the SPLOST projects scheduled to be started?
A. First, all of the projects may not be completed at all and
certainly some will probably be scattered out over the six year period
of the SPLOST. Also, needs may change over a six year period
and it may be determined that a certain project is no longer needed. If
the SPLOST is passed by the voters in February, then it will take
a while for plans to be completed for the projects along with more
exact cost estimates and for construction to begin. That is
why we have tried to include several different types of projects
because we are having to plan for a six year period.
Q. Will our property taxes increase because of all the SPLOST
projects and the cost of operation of them?
A. Absolutely not! Just the opposite
will be true. Without the SPLOST sales tax to help pay for the many
road, bridges and other construction projects, our property taxes
would already be extremely high instead of one of the lowest rates
in the state.
EXAMPLE – We built the new courthouse with SPLOST funds and
completed it early in 2007. Our property taxes were reduced
this year for the first time in many years. In fact our new
budget for 2008 is actually less than it was in 2007. Without
SPLOST none of this would have been remotely possible. We would
not have a new courthouse, we would not have a new and updated 911
center, we would not have one of the best rural road systems in the
state, and we would not have one of the best recreation programs,
best fire departments, and best customer service for the taxpayers
of any rural county.
Q. Is the old nursing home (County Annex) building worth
remodeling with SPLOST Sales Tax funds?
A. Yes it is. Part of it has already been remodeled where
the Avida Community Partners (formerly Georgia Mountain Community
Services) is located, as well as the portion that New Hope Counseling
occupies. Our main concern is for the remainder of the building
that is occupied by several agencies. The heating and electrical
systems are in dismal shape as well as all the restrooms. We
either have to use property tax money to fix the building or SPLOST
sales tax money. So using this SPLOST sales tax is the most reasonable
way in order to help keep taxes low.
Q. Who is using the County Annex building (Old Nursing Home)?
A. Currently, Union County Transportation, Election Board,
Coroner, Anti-Drug Coalition, New Hope Counseling Center, Georgia
Diabetes Foundation, Juvenile Justice, Disabled American Vets, Garden
Club, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Marines (Toys for Tots), CASA (Court
Appointed Special Advocates), the American Red Cross, storage for
several county offices and E 911 Mapping and the E-911 Dispatch Center.
Q. Won’t our operating expenses
be higher when we remodel these old buildings?
A. No, just the opposite will happen. New HVAC and electrical
systems are much more efficient now than when these buildings were
constructed. Insulation is improved and we anticipate that
utility bills and other operation cost will significantly decrease
when the remodeled buildings are completed.
Q. Does the Civic Center really
need to be remodeled?
A. Absolutely yes. This building was built in 1969 and still has
the original HVAC system that is way past obsolete. The electrical
system and restrooms must be remodeled and the roof leaks and has
for several years. Also the exterior sheeting material
has become brittle and breaks causing leaks to the walls as well
as the roof. However, the building, although 38 years old,
is still a very functional building and would be much less expensive
to renovate than destroy. This building will once again be
a tremendous asset to this community as it was when it was first
built. Using SPLOST sales tax money will be much easier on
our pocketbooks than paying for this out of property tax funds.
SPLOST to be continued
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